Medical systems, devices, and related methods

ABSTRACT

A medical system includes an insertion device including a handle, an insertion portion with at least one lumen, a port fluidly coupled to the lumen, and a connection portion. The medical system also includes a medical device including a handle, an insertion portion, and a connection portion configured to be coupled to the connection portion of the insertion device. The connection portion of the medical device is configured to be coupled to the connection portion of the insertion device to form an electronic and physical connection between the insertion device and the medical device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/874,201, filed on Jul. 15, 2019,the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to medical systems,devices, and methods. In particular, aspects of the present disclosurerelate to medical systems, devices, and methods for physically andelectronically coupling medical devices.

BACKGROUND

Medical devices, such as endoscopes or other suitable insertion devices,are employed for a variety of types of diagnostic and surgicalprocedures, such as endoscopy, laparoscopy, arthroscopy, gynoscopy,thoracoscopy, cystoscopy, etc. Many of these procedures involvedelivering an insertion device to a position within the body of apatient. Additionally, many procedures involve delivering a medicaldevice through a lumen in the insertion device. In particular, suchprocedures may be carried out by inserting the insertion device (e.g., aduodenoscope) into a subject's body through a surgical incision, or viaa natural anatomical orifice (e.g., mouth, vagina, or rectum), andperforming the procedure or operation at a target site with an auxiliarymedical device (e.g., a catheter with visualization) inserted throughthe insertion device.

The insertion device and the medical device may each have one or moreillumination devices (e.g., LEDs), visualization devices (e.g.,cameras), etc., which require power sources, display devices, etc. Theinsertion device and the medical device may each have an umbilicus orother cables or wires in order to couple the insertion device and themedical device to power sources, controllers, user interfaces, displays,etc. The umbilicus or other cables or wires may obstruct or impede theuser(s) movement during the medical procedure and/or may be accidentallytwisted or disconnected during the procedure. Additionally, theinsertion device and the medical device may each require separatecapital devices to power, control, visualize, etc. for each of theinsertion device and the medical device. The umbilicus, cables, wires,and multiple capital devices may increase the duration, costs, and risksof the medical procedure.

The devices and methods of the current disclosure may rectify some ofthe deficiencies described above or address other aspects of the priorart.

SUMMARY

Examples of the present disclosure relate to, among other things,systems and devices for coupling medical devices and performing one ormore medical procedures with the medical devices, and related methods ofuse thereof. Each of the examples disclosed herein may include one ormore of the features described in connection with any of the otherdisclosed examples.

In one example, a medical system may include an insertion deviceincluding a handle, an insertion portion with at least one lumen, a portfluidly coupled to the lumen, and a connection portion. The medicalsystem also may include a medical device including a handle, aninsertion portion, and a connection portion configured to be coupled tothe connection portion of the insertion device. The connection portionof the medical device may be configured to be coupled to the connectionportion of the insertion device to form an electronic and physicalconnection between the insertion device and the medical device.

The medical system may include one or more of the following features.The insertion portion of the medical device may be configured to beinserted through the port and through the lumen in the insertion portionof the insertion device. The connection portion of the insertion devicemay include a recessed port and one or more doors to movably cover therecessed port. The connection portion of the insertion device and theconnection portion of the medical device may be configured to be coupledtogether via a friction fit. The connection portion of the medicaldevice may include one or more extension portions that extend from themedical device to open the one or more doors and couple the medicaldevice to the insertion device. The connection portion of the medicaldevice may include pins, and the connection portion of the insertiondevice may include pin holes. The connection portion of the insertiondevice and the connection portion of the medical device may be coupledvia a locking mechanism, and the locking mechanism may include at leasttwo prongs with widened end portions and bendable arms. The connectorportion of the insertion device may include the at least two prongs withwidened end portions and bendable arms, and the connection portion ofthe medical device may include indentations to receive portions of thewidened end portions.

The medical system may further include a control unit, and the controlunit may be physically and electronically coupled to the insertiondevice via an umbilicus. The control unit may deliver power through theumbilicus to both the insertion device and the medical device to powerone or more distal components on a distal end of the insertion portionof the insertion device and to power one or more distal components on adistal end of the insertion portion of the medical device. The insertiondevice may include a controller to receive signals from the distalcomponents of the insertion device and from the distal components of themedical device. The controller may be configured to demodulate and/orcompress the received signals from the distal components of theinsertion device and from the distal components of the medical device.The demodulation and/or compression may include a 64-QAM carrier ororthogonal frequency division multiplexing. The insertion device and themedical device may be powered by a single umbilicus coupled to theinsertion device. The single umbilicus may include a single coaxialcable.

In another aspect, a medical device may include a handle, an insertionportion with at least one lumen, a port fluidly coupled to the lumen,and a connection portion configured to be coupled to another connectionportion of another medical device. The connection portion may beconfigured to electronically and physically couple the medical device tothe another medical device.

The medical device may include one or more of the following features.The medical device may further include an umbilicus coupled to thehandle and configured to couple the medical device to a control unit.The umbilicus may be configured to deliver power to the medical deviceto power both the medical device and the another medical device. Themedical device may further include a controller configured to receivesignals from distal components of both the medical device and theanother medical device. The controller may be configured to demodulateand/or compress the signals received from the distal components of boththe medical device and the another medical device and transmit thesignals to a control unit via the umbilicus.

In yet another aspect, a method may include inserting a distal portionof an insertion portion of an insertion device into a patient body. Theinsertion device may include a handle coupled to the insertion portion.The method may also include coupling a handle of a medical device to thehandle of the insertion device. The medical device may include aninsertion portion coupled to the handle of the medical device, andcoupling the handle of the medical device to the handle of the insertiondevice may form an electronic and physical connection between themedical device and the insertion device. The method may also includeinserting the insertion portion of the medical device through a lumen ofthe insertion device and into the patient body and visualizing and/orperforming a procedure within the patient body.

The method may include one or more of the following features. The methodmay also include coupling the handle of the insertion device to acontrol unit via an umbilicus. The insertion device may further includea controller configured to receive signals from distal components ofboth the insertion device and the medical device. The controller may beconfigured to demodulate and/or compress the signals received from thedistal components of both the insertion device and the medical deviceand transmit the signals to the control unit via the umbilicus. Thecontrol unit may be configured to deliver power to both the insertiondevice and the medical device via the umbilicus.

It may be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the disclosure, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate exemplary aspects of the presentdisclosure and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary medical system including two medicaldevices in a coupled configuration, according to aspects of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates the exemplary medical system of FIG. 1 in anuncoupled configuration, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a control system for at least a portion ofthe exemplary medical system of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative configuration of a portion of theexemplary medical system of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an exemplary treatment method, according toaspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples of the present disclosure include devices and methods forfacilitating and improving the efficacy, efficiency, and/or safety ofvisualizing and/or manipulating tissue during a medical procedure. Forexample, aspects of the present disclosure may provide a user (e.g.,physician, medical technician, or other medical service provider) withthe ability to physically and electronically connect handles of twomedical devices (e.g., an insertion device and a medical device).Aspects of the present disclosure may also provide the user with theability to deliver the insertion device to a location within a patient'sbody, and also to deliver the medical device through an internal lumenof the insertion device to the location within the patient's body to,for example, visualize, resect, energize, treat, or otherwise manipulatetissue or material within a patient's body.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may relate to systems forperforming various medical procedures and methods for obtainingvisualization of the pancreatico-biliary system and/or any othersuitable patient anatomy. Various embodiments described herein is mayinclude single-use or disposable medical devices. More specifically, inexemplary embodiments, the medical system may be configured to deliverand position a visualization device and/or an access device, e.g., aneedle-knife and/or a tome, for accessing the papilla of Vater or majorpapilla. The papilla of Vater generally forms the opening where thepancreatic duct and the common bile duct empty into the duodenum of thesmall intestine. The hepatic ducts and the gall bladder empty into thecommon bile duct. In general, an endoscopic or biliary procedure mayrequire advancing a medical device to a suitable location along thebiliary tree and then performing the appropriate intervention. Themedical device and methods disclosed herein provide access andvisualization (and a delivery system for visualization and accessdevices) to, among other areas, the papilla and/or pancreatico-biliarysystem. For example, the insertion device may be a duodenoscope that maybe delivered to gain access to a papilla, and the medical device may beinserted through the duodenoscope and extended distally beyond theinsertion portion of the duodenoscope and into a biliary duct.

The physical and electronic coupling of the handles of the two medicaldevices may further allow for the two medical devices to be connected toa single piece of capital equipment in order to power illuminationdevices (e.g., LEDs), visualization devices (e.g., cameras), etc. ofboth medical devices and to send and receive information from one ormore sensors on both medical devices. Some aspects of the presentdisclosure may be used in performing an endoscopic, laparoscopic,arthroscopic, or other type of procedure. For example, the disclosedaspects may be used with duodenoscopes, bronchoscopes, ureteroscopes,colonoscopes, catheters, diagnostic or therapeutic tools or devices, orother types of medical devices.

Reference will now be made in detail to examples of the presentdisclosure described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

The terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein to refer to therelative positions of the components of an exemplary medical device.When used herein, “proximal” refers to a position relatively closer tothe exterior of the body or closer to a medical professional using themedical device. In contrast, “distal” refers to a position relativelyfurther away from the medical professional using the medical device, orcloser to the interior of the body. As used herein, the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” “having,” “including,” or other variationsthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that adevice or method that comprises a list of elements does not include onlythose elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed orinherent thereto. Unless stated otherwise, the term “exemplary” is usedin the sense of “example” rather than “ideal.” As used herein, the terms“about,” “substantially,” and “approximately,” indicate a range ofvalues within +/−10% of a stated value.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a medical system 10 that includes an insertiondevice 12 and a medical device 14. FIG. 1 illustrates insertion device12 and medical device 14 in a coupled configuration, and FIG. 2illustrates insertion device 12 and medical device 14 in an uncoupledconfiguration. FIG. 1 shows a first side of medical device 14, and FIG.2 shows a second side of medical device 14, opposite to the first side.Insertion device 12 may be an endoscope, duodenoscope, bronchoscope,ureteroscope, colonoscope, or other type of medical device. In oneaspect, insertion device 12 may be a single-use type medical device. Inanother aspect, insertion device 12 may be a reusable type medicaldevice. Medical device 14 may be a catheter with one or moreillumination devices (e.g., LEDs) and one or more visualization devices(e.g., a camera), for example, a SpyScope™ device manufactured and soldby Boston Scientific Corporation. Insertion device 12 and medical device14 may be physically and electronically coupled via a connection 16formed by a connector 18 on insertion device 12 and a connector 20 onmedical device 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

Insertion device 12 may have a handle portion 22 and an insertionportion 24, which may be inserted into a body lumen of a subject duringa medical procedure. Insertion portion 24 may be joined to handleportion 22. A stress relief portion 26 may bridge handle portion 22 andinsertion portion 24. An umbilicus 28 may extend from handle portion 22,and another stress relief portion 30 may bridge handle portion 16 andumbilicus 28. As shown in FIG. 3, umbilicus 28 may be used to connectinsertion device 12 to components or capital equipment, such as acontrol unit (for providing, e.g., optical controls including camera,video, light, or other optical controls), an air and/or water supply,and/or a suction supply.

Handle portion 22 may include a number of components used by an operatorto control insertion device 12 before, during, or after a procedureinvolving insertion device 12. For example, handle portion 22 mayinclude steering components 32. Steering components 32 may be used tocontrol deflection of a distal portion (not shown) of insertion portion24. Steering components 32 may be a part of a steering assembly. Forexample, steering components 32 may include two knobs 34, 36 used fordeflecting a distal portion of insertion portion 24. One of knobs 34, 36may be used to deflect a distal portion of insertion portion 24 along afirst axis, and the other of knobs 34, 36 may be used to deflect thedistal portion of insertion portion 24 along a second axis transverse tothe first axis. For example, knob 34 may be operable to deflect a distalportion of insertion portion 20 in a left/right direction, and knob 36may be operable to deflect a distal portion of insertion portion 24 inan up/down direction. Although not shown, steering components 32 mayalso include one or more locking mechanisms, which may be used to limita distal portion of insertion portion 24 from moving in a left/rightand/or up/down direction or otherwise lock the position of the distalportion of insertion portion 24.

Insertion device 12 may also include a number of ports and/or valves.For example, handle portion 22 may include a working channel port 38that may be used for passing one or more instruments or other devices(e.g., a portion of medical device 14) through a working channel ofinsertion portion 24 to the distal end of insertion device 12. Workingchannel port 38 may include a valve to prevent leakage. Insertion device12 may also include fluidics components, such as valves 40, 42 forproviding air, water, and/or suction. Valves 40, 42 may connect totubing in umbilicus 28, handle portion 22, and/or insertion portion 24,such that pressing on or otherwise actuating valves 40, 42 permits thecorresponding function. For example, valve 40 may be used to provide airand/or water through one or more lumens of insertion portion 24, andvalve 42 may be used to provide suction and may connect to one or morelumens of insertion portion 24. Insertion device 12 may also includeother components such as elevator lever 44, which may be used to move anelevator (not shown) at a distal end of insertion portion 24 up and/ordown. For example, elevator lever 44 may be used where insertion device12 is a duodenoscope.

Furthermore, a distal end of insertion portion 24 may include one ormore distal components 108 (FIG. 3), for example, illumination devices(e.g., LEDs), one or more visualization devices (e.g., cameras), etc.The one or more distal components 108 may be coupled to a controller 104within handle portion 22 of insertion device 12 and to a control unit102.

Medical device 14 may include a handle portion 50 and an insertionportion 52. As shown in FIG. 1, handle portion 50 may be coupled tohandle portion 22 of insertion device 12 via connection 16. Insertionportion 52 be inserted through working channel port 38 and throughinsertion portion 24 of insertion device 12 such that insertion portion52 may extend through and distally beyond a distal end tip of insertionportion 24 and into the body of a subject during a medical procedure.Insertion portion 52 may be joined to handle portion 50. A stress reliefportion 54 may bridge handle portion 50 and insertion portion 52.

Handle portion 50 may include a number of components used by an operatorto control insertion device 52 before, during, or after a procedureinvolving insertion device 52. For example, handle portion 50 mayinclude steering components 56. Steering components 56 may be used tocontrol deflection of a distal portion (not shown) of insertion portion52. Steering components 56 may be a part of a steering assembly. Forexample, steering components 56 may include two knobs 58, 60 used fordeflecting a distal portion of insertion portion 24. One of knobs 58, 60may be used to deflect a distal portion of insertion portion 52 along afirst axis (e.g., a left/right direction), and the other of knobs 58, 60may be used to deflect the distal portion of insertion portion 52 alonga second axis transverse to the first axis (e.g., a up/down direction),as discussed above with respect to insertion device 12. Although notshown, steering components 56 may also include one or more lockingmechanisms, which may be used so as to limit a distal portion ofinsertion portion 52 from moving in a left/right and/or up/downdirection or otherwise lock the position of the distal portion ofinsertion portion 52. Although not shown, medical device 14 may includea number of ports and/or valves.

Furthermore, a distal end of insertion portion 52 may include one ormore distal components 110 (FIG. 3), for example, illumination devices(e.g., LEDs), one or more visualization devices (e.g., cameras), etc.The one or more distal components 110 may be coupled to a controller 106within handle portion 50 of medical device 14, to a controller 104within handle portion 22 of insertion device 12, and to a control unit102.

As mentioned above, insertion device 12 and medical device 14 may becoupled via connection 16. Insertion device 12 includes connector 18,and medical device 14 includes connector 20. Connector 18 may bepositioned on an intermediate position on handle portion 22, forexample, proximal of stress relief portion 26 and distal to steeringcomponents 32. Similarly, connector 20 may be positioned on anintermediate position on handle portion 50, for example, proximal ofstress relief portion 54 and distal to steering components 56. In oneaspect, connector 18 may be a female connector, and connector 20 may bea male connector. In another aspect, connector 18 may be a maleconnector, and connector 20 may be a female connector.

As shown in FIG. 2, connector 18 of insertion device 12 may include oneor more movable doors 62 to form a cover and a recessed port 64. The oneor more movable doors 62 may be pivotably coupled to edges of recessedport 64, for example, on opposite sides of recessed port 64. The one ormore movable doors 62 may be biased to block recessed port 64, but maybe pivotable to expose or otherwise provide access to recessed port 64.Movable doors 62 may provide ingress protection for recessed port 64when medical device 14 is not connected to insertion device 12, forexample, during a different procedure, during positioning of insertiondevice 12, or before the medical procedure. Recessed port 64 includes aconnection portion 66, which may include one or more pin holes 68.Connection portion 66 may extend outward from recessed port 64 to formthe one or more pin holes 68. Pin holes 68 may be electronicallyconnected to controller 104.

Although not shown, in another aspect, connector 18 of insertion device12 may include a breakaway covering or a tear away covering. Forexample, the breakaway covering or tear away covering may be puncturedor removed when connector 20 of medical device 14 is inserted into orotherwise coupled to connector 18 of insertion device 12. The breakawaycovering or tear away covering may be used in addition to movable doors62 or without movable doors 62. In this aspect, the breakaway coveringor tear away covering may help protect recessed port 64 or othercomponents of connector 20. Additionally, the breakaway covering or tearaway covering may also help to indicate whether insertion device 12 haspreviously been coupled to and/or used with a medical device.

Connector 20 of medical device 14 may include a connection portion 70that includes one or more pins 72. Pins 72 may be electronicallyconnected to controller 106. The one or more pins 72 may be configuredto be received within corresponding pin holes 68 to form an electronicconnection between controller 104 and controller 106. Additionally,although eight pins 72 and eight pin holes 68 are shown in FIG. 2, thisdisclosure is not so limited, as connector 20 and connector 18 mayinclude any number of pins, pin holes, or other connection elements. Inone aspect, connector 18 may include six pin holes 68, and connector 20may include six pins 72.

Connection portion 70 may include one or more extension portions 74 thatmay surround but be spaced away from pins 72. Extension portions 74 mayextend farther away from handle portion 50 than pins 72, for example, toprotect pins 72 during coupling with insertion device 12 and/or to helpopen movable doors 62 to allow pins 72 to be coupled to pin holes 68.Additionally, extension portions 74 may be configured to abut andsurround connection portion 66 of connector 18 on insertion device. Forexample, coupling connector 20 to connector 18 may form a friction fitbetween extension portions 74 and connection portion 66 to physicallycouple medical device 14 to insertion device 12.

In one aspect, the amount of force required to disconnect connector 18and connector 20 may be greater than (e.g., approximately two timesgreater than) the forces that may be imparted to insertion device 12 andmedical device 14 during a medical procedure. As such, connector 18 andconnector 20 may help to ensure that medical device 14 is onlydisconnected from insertion device 12 by a user or other medicalprofessional after a medical procedure is completed, when a portion ofthe medical procedure necessitates disconnection, or otherwise whenintended.

Although FIG. 2 and the discussion above discloses insertion device 12including pin holes 68 and medical device 14 including pins 72 such thatmedical device 14 plugs into a socket in insertion device 12, thisdisclosure is not so limited. For example, insertion device 12 mayinclude pins, and medical device 14 may include pin holes.Alternatively, insertion device 12 and medical device 14 may bephysically and electronically connected via one or more othertechniques. Additionally, as discussed below with respect to FIG. 4,connector 18 and connector 20 may include one or more contoured shapesto help securely and releasably connect medical device 14 to insertiondevice 12 such that the connection is maintained during manipulation ofone of more of insertion device 12 and medical device 14 during themedical procedure.

As shown in FIG. 3, various components of insertion device 12 andmedical device 14 may be coupled to form a control system 100. Controlsystem 100 includes a control unit 102. Control unit 102 may be acapital box (e.g., capital equipment) with one or more of a userinterface, display, etc. Control unit 102 may be coupled to insertiondevice 12 via umbilicus 28. With insertion device 12 and medical device14 coupled via connection 16, control unit 102 may deliver power andprovide a ground to both insertion device 12 and medical device 14 viaumbilicus 28. Additionally, control unit 102 may also receive andtransmit information and signals to and from both insertion device 12and medical device 14 via umbilicus 28 in order to perform a two-waydigital communication. For example, control unit 102 may be coupled to acontroller 104 within insertion device 12 (e.g., within handle portion22). Additionally, control unit 102 may be coupled to a controller 106within medical device 14 (e.g., within handle portion 50). In thisaspect, controller 106 may be coupled to controller 104 via connection16, such that controller 106 within medical device 14 is indirectlycoupled to control unit 102 via controller 104 within insertion device12. In another aspect, one or more of insertion device 12, medicaldevice 14, or control unit 102 may provide an indication or signal averification that insertion device 12 and medical device 14 arecompatible, that one or more of insertion device 12 and medical device14 are suitable for a medical procedure, etc.

Control unit 102 may receive signals from distal components 108 ofinsertion device 12 and from distal components 110 of medical device 14.In one aspect, controller 104 may perform a digital modulation toconsolidate video signals from insertion device 12 and from medicaldevice 14 into a single conductive medium. For example, umbilicus 28 mayinclude a single coaxial cable. In this aspect, video signals frominsertion device 12 may be transmitted on one channel, and video signalsfrom medical device 14 may be transmitted on another channel.

In one example, control unit 102 may include an 8-pin connection withumbilicus 28. Two pins may provide an inter-integrated circuit to drivedistal components 108 and 110 (e.g., LEDs). Four pins may provide twolines of high-speed signal communication, and two pins may provide apower and a ground. Accordingly, the inter-integrated circuit,high-speed signal communication, power, and the ground may connectcontrol unit 102 to controller 104 in insertion device 12. In oneexample, connector 18 and connector 20 may include a six pin connection.In this aspect, two pins may provide an inter-integrated circuit todrive distal components 110 (e.g., LEDs) of medical device 14. Two pinsmay convey clock or timing information and data, respectively, forexample, from an imaging unit at the distal end of medical device 14.Lastly, two pins may be dedicated for power and ground. In this aspect,controller 104 in insertion device 12 may perform a demodulation orcompression procedure to allow for information from both insertiondevice 12 and medical device 14 to be delivered to control unit 102,while control unit 102 also provides information, power, ground, etc. toboth insertion device 12 and medical device 14.

Furthermore, the digital modulation may utilize quadrature amplitudemodulation (“QAM”). For example, the digital modulation may utilize a64-QAM carrier, which may allow for a single wave to represent six bitsof data by manipulating the amplitude and the phase of the wave into oneof sixty-four different discrete states. Alternatively, the digitalmodulation may include orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(“OFDM”). OFDM may utilize multiple subcarriers to transmit theinformation from a single source, which may reduce signal noise andprovide a high data rate throughput for wideband applications. In thisaspect, OFDM may allow one set of subcarriers to transmit informationfrom the distal components 108 of insertion device 12 and another set ofsubcarriers to transmit information from the distal components 110 ofmedical device 14. Moreover, other digital modulation or datacompression techniques may be employed. In any of these aspects, thedigital modulation or data compression may help to consolidate theinformation signals from insertion device 12 and medical device 14, andmay help reduce the required size for umbilicus 28 and the requirednumber of connection pins and/or components to couple umbilicus 28 tocontroller 102, thus reducing the complexity and/or cost of umbilicus 28and the other components of control system 100.

Although the above discussion includes the demodulation and/orcompression being performed by controller 104 of insertion device 12,this disclosure is not so limited. For example, in one aspect,controller 106 of medical device 14 may demodulate and/or compresssignals from distal components 110 of medical device 14, and controller104 of insertion device 12 may demodulate and/or compress signals fromdistal components 108 of insertion device 12.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary locking mechanism 80 that may be used toreleasably couple an exemplary connector 18A of insertion device 12 toan exemplary connector 20A of medical device 14. It is noted that thepins and pin holes, discussed above, are omitted in FIG. 4 for clarity.Locking mechanism 80 may include two prongs 82 that extend away frominsertion device 12. Prongs 82 may include widened end portions 84 andarms 86 connected to handle portion 22 of insertion device 12.Additionally, connector 20A of medical device 14 may includeindentations 90 that may align with widened end portions 84 to coupleconnector 20A to connector 18A.

In order to couple connector 20A to connector 18A, connection portion70A of connector 20A may be extended toward handle portion 22 ofinsertion device 12, for example, toward connection portion 66A ofconnector 18A. Connection portion 70A may interact with widened endportions 84 and force arms 86 to flex, or bend outward. Further movementof connection portion 70A may provide for widened end portions 84aligning with indentations 90, and further provide for arms 86 to returnto their normal, relaxed, non-bent positions. With widened end portions84 and indentations 90 aligned, insertion device 12 and medical device14 may be coupled such that forces required to bend arms 86 outward andremove connection portion 70A away from handle portion 22 of insertiondevice 12 may be greater than forces that may be imparted to insertiondevice 12 and medical device 14 during a medical procedure, as discussedabove. Arms 86 and indentations 90 may have curved or angled shapes,which may help in the coupling or uncoupling of medical device 14 andinsertion device 12. Furthermore, arms 86 may be manually bent outwardby the user in order to assist in coupling or uncoupling medical device14 and insertion device 12. It is understood that medical system 10 mayinclude any fastening mechanism for releasably attaching insertiondevice 12 and medical device 14, e.g., including corresponding featuresfor engagement/disengagement.

Although locking mechanism 80 is shown as being a part of insertiondevice 12, this disclosure is not so limited. For example, a lockingmechanism may extend from medical device 14 and may be releasablysecured to a portion of insertion device 12. Moreover, in anotheraspect, locking mechanisms may extend from both insertion device 12 andfrom medical device 14, which may be releasably secured to a portion ofmedical device 14 and insertion device 12, respectively. Alternativelyor additionally, medical system 10 may include one or more othercoupling features in order to releasably physically and electronicallycouple medical device 14 to insertion device 12.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram portraying an exemplary treatment method 500 totreat or visualize a body lumen of a patient. Method 500 includes a step502, wherein the user inserts or positions insertion portion 24 ofinsertion device 12 within the patient. Step 502 may include apreliminary step of coupling insertion device 12 to capital equipment,for example, control unit 102, via umbilicus 28. Step 502 may alsoinclude visualizing an internal portion of the patient with one or moredistal components 108 (e.g., illumination and/or imaging devices) at adistal end of insertion portion 24. Additionally, step 502 may includemaneuvering insertion portion 24 via one or more of steering components32.

In a step 504, the user may couple handle portion 50 of medical device14 to handle portion 22 of insertion device 12. For example, connector20 or connector 20A of medical device 14 may be coupled to connector 18or connector 18A, respectively, of insertion device 12. Additionally,coupling medical device 14 to insertion device 12 may include physicallyand electronically connecting medical device 14 to insertion device 12.As discussed above, the connection may be friction fit (FIGS. 1 and 2),may include a contoured and biased engagement (FIG. 4), or anotherreleasable coupling mechanism.

In a step 506, insertion portion 52 of medical device 12 may be insertedthrough a lumen of insertion device 12. For example, insertion portion52 may be inserted through port 38 in handle portion 22 and throughinsertion portion 24. In one aspect, insertion portion 52 of medicaldevice 12 may be delivered to a position aligned with the distal end ofinsertion portion 24 of insertion device 12. In another aspect,insertion portion 52 of medical device 12 may be delivered to a positiondistally beyond the distal end of insertion portion 24 of insertiondevice 12. In this aspect, a distal end of insertion portion 52 may becontrolled via steering components 56. In either aspect, the position ofthe distal end of insertion portion 52 of medical device 14 relative tothe distal end of insertion portion 22 of insertion device 12 may becontrolled via the position of insertion portion 52 relative to port 38.Stated another way, insertion portion 52 may be threaded or inserteddistally through port 38 to extend the distal end of insertion portion52 relative to the distal end of insertion portion 22 of insertiondevice 12. Insertion portion 52 may also be retracted proximally out ofport 38 to withdraw the distal end of insertion portion 52 relative tothe distal end of insertion portion 22 of insertion device 12.

Next, a step 508 may include visualizing and/or performing a procedurewithin the patient. The visualizing and/or performing the procedure mayinclude visualizing, treating, and/or otherwise manipulating tissue orother material within the patient. For example, the user may utilize oneof distal components 108 of insertion device 12 or distal components 110of medical device 14 to illuminate and/or to visualize an internalportion of the patient. In one aspect, insertion portion 22 of insertiondevice 12 may be used to access and/or visualize the papilla, forexample, in step 502, and insertion portion 52 of medical device 14 maybe extended to access and/or visualize the biliary duct of a subject,for example, in step 508. Additionally, signals from distal components108 or distal components 110 may be transmitted through umbilicus 28 tocontrol unit 102 to be analyzed, stored, displayed, etc. Moreover,insertion device 12 and/or medical device 14 may include one or moreadditional medical components (e.g., electrodes, graspers, knives, etc.)in order treat tissue or other material within the cavity.

The aforementioned aspects may allow medical device 14 to be directlycoupled to insertion device 12 to form a releasable physical andelectronic connection. As a result, insertion device 12 may be coupledto control unit 102 via umbilicus 28 without the need for medical device14 to be coupled to control unit 102 or another control unit, thusreducing the number of cables or wires for medical system 10. Doors 62or other elements may help provide a hinged cover for ingress protectionfor connector 18 on insertion device 12. The respective sizes andarrangements of connector 18 and connector 20 may help form a frictioncoupling to secure medical device 14 to insertion device 12 via anintegrated locking mechanism. Additionally or alternatively, one or moreof insertion device 12 and medical device 14 may include a lockingmechanism 80, as discussed with respect to FIG. 4.

One or more of the aforementioned aspects may allow for insertion device12 and medical device 14 to be powered by a single power source, forexample, within control unit 102, via a single umbilicus 28. Controlunit 102 may provide power to both insertion device 12 and medicaldevice 14. The power may be sufficient to power illumination devices(e.g., LEDs), visualization devices (e.g., cameras), and other elementson both insertion device 12 and medical device 14. Moreover, one or moreof the aforementioned aspects may allow for output signals, for example,video output, from one or more distal components 108 on insertion device12 and distal components 110 on medical device 14 to be output tocontrol unit 102 and, for example, displayed on a monitor, via a singleumbilicus 28. Furthermore, one or more of the aforementioned aspects mayallow for insertion device 12 and medical device 14 to be securely andreleasably coupled to each other without the need for any additionalcoupling mechanisms. Accordingly, insertion device 12 and medical device14 may be powered and configured to transmit information during amedical procedure with a reduced number of cables or wires, improvingusability during a medical procedure. Additionally, insertion device 12and medical device 14 may be held and/or maneuvered together withoutrequiring additional coupling mechanisms.

Medical system 10, control system 100, and method 500 may be used toperform any of the above procedures, without the need for an additionalumbilicus, wires, cables, etc., which may reduce the overall proceduretime, component costs, and/or reduce the risks to the subject.

While principles of the present disclosure are described herein withreference to illustrative aspects for particular applications, it shouldbe understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. Those havingordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided hereinwill recognize additional modifications, applications, aspects, andsubstitution of equivalents all fall within the scope of the aspectsdescribed herein. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be considered aslimited by the foregoing description.

We claim:
 1. A medical system comprising: an insertion device includinga handle, an insertion portion with at least one lumen, a port fluidlycoupled to the lumen, and a connection portion; and a medical deviceincluding a handle, an insertion portion, and a connection portionconfigured to be coupled to the connection portion of the insertiondevice, wherein the connection portion of the medical device isconfigured to be coupled to the connection portion of the insertiondevice to form an electronic and physical connection between theinsertion device and the medical device.
 2. The medical system of claim1, wherein the insertion portion of the medical device is configured tobe inserted through the port and through the lumen in the insertionportion of the insertion device.
 3. The medical system of claim 1,wherein the connection portion of the insertion device includes arecessed port and one or more doors to movably cover the recessed port.4. The medical system of claim 3, wherein the connection portion of theinsertion device and the connection portion of the medical device areconfigured to be coupled together via a friction fit.
 5. The medicalsystem of claim 4, wherein the connection portion of the medical deviceincludes one or more extension portions that extend from the medicaldevice to open the one or more doors and couple the medical device tothe insertion device.
 6. The medical system of claim 1, wherein theconnection portion of the medical device includes pins, and wherein theconnection portion of the insertion device includes pin holes.
 7. Themedical system of claim 1, wherein the connection portion of theinsertion device and the connection portion of the medical device arecoupled via a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism includesat least two prongs with widened end portions and bendable arms.
 8. Themedical system of claim 7, wherein the connector portion of theinsertion device includes the at least two prongs with widened endportions and bendable arms, and wherein the connection portion of themedical device includes indentations to receive portions of the widenedend portions.
 9. The medical system of claim 1, further including acontrol unit, wherein the control unit is physically and electronicallycoupled to the insertion device via an umbilicus.
 10. The medical systemof claim 9, wherein the control unit delivers power through theumbilicus to both the insertion device and the medical device to powerone or more distal components on a distal end of the insertion portionof the insertion device and to power one or more distal components on adistal end of the insertion portion of the medical device.
 11. Themedical system of claim 10, wherein the insertion device includes acontroller to receive signals from the distal components of theinsertion device and from the distal components of the medical device.12. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configuredto demodulate and/or compress the received signals from the distalcomponents of the insertion device and from the distal components of themedical device.
 13. The medical system of claim 12, wherein thedemodulation and/or compression includes a 64-QAM carrier or orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing.
 14. The medical system of claim 1,wherein the insertion device and the medical device are powered by asingle umbilicus coupled to the insertion device.
 15. The medical systemof claim 14, wherein the single umbilicus includes a single coaxialcable.
 16. A medical device, comprising: a handle; an insertion portionwith at least one lumen; a port fluidly coupled to the lumen; and aconnection portion configured to be coupled to another connectionportion of another medical device, wherein the connection portion isconfigured to electronically and physically couple the medical device tothe another medical device.
 17. The medical device of claim 16, furthercomprising an umbilicus coupled to the handle and configured to couplethe medical device to a control unit, wherein the umbilicus isconfigured to deliver power to the medical device to power both themedical device and the another medical device.
 18. The medical device ofclaim 16, further comprising a controller configured to receive signalsfrom distal components of both the medical device and the anothermedical device, wherein the controller is configured to demodulateand/or compress the signals received from the distal components of boththe medical device and the another medical device and transmit thesignals to a control unit via the umbilicus.
 19. A method, comprising:inserting a distal portion of an insertion portion of an insertiondevice into a patient body, wherein the insertion device includes ahandle coupled to the insertion portion; coupling a handle of a medicaldevice to the handle of the insertion device, wherein the medical deviceincludes an insertion portion coupled to the handle of the medicaldevice, and wherein coupling the handle of the medical device to thehandle of the insertion device forms an electronic and physicalconnection between the medical device and the insertion device;inserting the insertion portion of the medical device through a lumen ofthe insertion device and into the patient body; and visualizing and/orperforming a procedure within the patient body.
 20. The method of claim19, further comprising: coupling the handle of the insertion device to acontrol unit via an umbilicus, wherein the insertion device furtherincludes a controller configured to receive signals from distalcomponents of both the insertion device and the medical device, whereinthe controller is configured to demodulate and/or compress the signalsreceived from the distal components of both the insertion device and themedical device and transmit the signals to the control unit via theumbilicus, and wherein the control unit is configured to deliver powerto both the insertion device and the medical device via the umbilicus.